Wave Interference and Standing Waves

Front

Transverse Wave Noun

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[tranz-vurs weyv]

Back

Transverse Wave

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A wave in which the vibrations of the medium are at right angles to the direction the wave travels.

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Example: This diagram shows a transverse wave, labeling its key parts: the highest point (peak), the lowest point (trough), the height from the center (amplitude), and the distance between peaks (wavelength).

Front

Longitudinal Wave Noun

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[lon-ji-tood-n-ul weyv]

Back

Longitudinal Wave

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A wave in which the particles of the medium oscillate parallel to the direction of the wave's energy transfer.

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Example: This diagram shows a longitudinal wave, where particles (red dot) vibrate back and forth parallel to the direction the wave's energy travels (propagation).

Front

Compression Noun

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[kuhm-presh-uh n]

Back

Compression

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An area within a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are densely squeezed together.

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Example: This diagram shows that a compression is the part of a longitudinal wave where particles are packed most closely together, corresponding to the wave's peak.

Front

Rarefaction Noun

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[rair-uh-fak-shuh n]

Back

Rarefaction

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A region within a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are spread far apart.

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Example: This diagram shows a longitudinal wave, where 'Rarefaction' is the area where particles are spread apart, contrasting with 'Compression' where they are close together.

Front

Superposition Noun

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[soo-per-puh-zish-uh n]

Back

Superposition

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The principle stating that multiple waves can exist at the same time in the same space, passing through each other.

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Example: When two waves (Wave 1 and Wave 2) travel through the same space, they combine to form a new, resultant wave at every point.

Front

Interference Noun

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[in-ter-feer-uh ns]

Back

Interference

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The phenomenon that occurs when two or more waves exist in the same space, resulting in a single combined wave.

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Example: When waves overlap, they combine. If their peaks align (constructive), the new wave is bigger. If a peak meets a trough (destructive), they can cancel out.

Front

Interference pattern Noun

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[in-ter-feer-uh ns pat-ern]

Back

Interference pattern

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A regular arrangement of locations where wave effects are altered as a result of wave interference.

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Example: This diagram shows two wave sources creating waves that overlap. This overlap forms an interference pattern, with the arrow pointing to an area of destructive interference.

Front

Constructive interference Noun

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[kuh n-struhk-tiv in-ter-feer-uh ns]

Back

Constructive interference

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Interference where the crest of one wave overlaps another's crest, resulting in reinforcement and increased amplitude.

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Example: When two wave pulses moving towards each other meet, their heights add together to create a single, taller pulse before they pass through each other.

Front

Destructive interference Noun

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[dih-struhk-tiv in-ter-feer-uh ns]

Back

Destructive interference

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Interference where a wave's crest overlaps another's trough, resulting in cancellation and reduced amplitude.

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Example: When two waves with opposite displacements (a crest and a trough) meet, they cancel each other out, resulting in a wave with zero amplitude.

Front

Standing Wave Noun

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[stan-ding weyv]

Back

Standing Wave

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A wave pattern resulting from two identical waves traveling in opposite directions and interfering with each other.

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Example: This image shows a standing wave on a guitar string, where the wave appears to vibrate in place between two fixed points (nodes).